Residents of a north 琉璃神社 neighbourhood say they were blindsided by the announcement of a proposed temporary transitional housing development just steps from their front doors.

On Aug. 26 Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon was in 琉璃神社 to unveil that a third 60-unit project for people experiencing homelessness will be built at 3199 Appaloosa Road.

Kelsey McCallen lives a five-minute walk away from the site at Sol Terra Ranch. She and about 40 of her neighbours held an emergency community meeting after reading about the announcement in local media.

鈥淚鈥檓 actually one of the furthest away from it where I am on Mustang (Court). We have others in the group where it is 100 steps from their front doors.鈥�

McCallen said there was no public notice or communication about the housing project from the city or the province. 

鈥淥ne of our neighbours called a staff manager at the City of 琉璃神社 and she said notifications would be in the mail in the next day or two.鈥�

McCallen also said the manager, in the same phone call, said there were 鈥渧ery low RCMP calls in our neighbourhood so they thought it would be a good spot for this.鈥�

McCallen said people in her neighbourhood look out for one another and there are occasional problems.

鈥淟ike most other neighbourhoods in 琉璃神社, there is obviously going to be some type of crime. Overall, I鈥檝e always felt safe in our neighbourhood.鈥�

She added that several concerns were raised about the housing project during the community meeting.

鈥淪afety of our neighbourhood. Theft, vandalism, increased drug use,鈥� McCallen added.

The community has many families with young children, including McCallen鈥檚. Nearby is College Heights Mobile Home Park where many seniors live, and several. of McCallen's neighbours rent their basement suites to UBCO students.

鈥淗aving this a stone鈥檚 throw away is concerning.鈥�

Neighbours have contacted the provincial housing ministry, and the city, and emailed the mayor, city councillors and MLAs with their concerns. 

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e also doing is getting the word out to other neighbours. If you didn鈥檛 see the articles you wouldn鈥檛 know because we haven鈥檛 gotten any notification.鈥�

McCallen said the neighbourhood has reached out to area businesses, posted on community Facebook pages and started a petition on change.org.

While she and her neighbours are in favour of supportive housing, McCallen said they feel the Appaloosa site in the middle of their community is not the appropriate location.

鈥淭he other two supportive housing developments (STEP Place, Trailside) are not that close to people鈥檚 homes, they鈥檙e more commercial or industrial areas. This one is a hard pill to swallow.鈥�

She also noted a lack of amenities in the area such as a medical clinic, grocery store, or pharmacy. 

Capital News has contacted the City of 琉璃神社 and B.C. Housing and both have indicated they will provide comments.

The Appaloosa Road, STEP Place and Trailside projects are temporary housing solutions and will be in place for at least three years.